,
a poignant and emotionally powerful story, that knocks you off your feet.
Michael Caine plays British journalist Thomas Fowler who befriends young 'quiet American' Alden
Pyle played by Brendan Fraser. Both of them falls in love with beautiful Vietnamese girl,
Phuong (Do Thi Hai Yen), whom Thomas Fowler, in his thoughts equates with Vietnam.
The setting is 1950s Saigon, when the French was already having a hard time containing the
Communists, and the U.S. was just beginning to get involved.
It's a love story - a love triangle between 2 men and a woman, and in a way, between the countries
involved also.
Politics and personal feelings are elegantly mixed in the telling, that sometimes you have to stop and
think to whom is the movie referring to - the girl or Vietnam.
Filmed on location, the cinematography adds to the beauty of the story.
The movie is about idealism confronted with harsh realities. A man has to make choices, literally and
figuratively, for himself, for his country, for the girl he loves and for Vietnam.
Superb performances by Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser. Watching Fraser on the
The Quiet American
makes your forget the comedic and heroic hero he portrayed in 'The Mummy' series. Fraser can act!
Both actors, Caine and Fraser are great counterpoints for each other. Director Philip Noyce should be
commended for this impressive film, which is truly a work of art.
